For many of us, summer is associated with good and plentiful eating. Whether it is meals cooked on the grill, picnics down the shore, or the bounty of fruits and vegetables at the neighborhood farmers market, summer is not a time most associate with going hungry. The fact of the matter, however, is that nearly 300,000 kids in the Delaware valley run the risk of going hungry this summer because their free or reduced lunch from school is not available and their parents or guardians struggle to find the funds to put summers bounty on the table.
Being a chef, I ...

America’s schools aren’t just places for kids to learn—they’re also major hunger-relief providers. In 2012, the National School Lunch Program provided 31 million children each school day with a nutritious mid-day meal, giving them the fuel they need to succeed in their studies. Millions of children also receive breakfast and snacks at their schools. Our region is no exception, as 42% of children in Philabundance’s Pennsylvania and New Jersey service areas receive free or reduced price meals during the school day. In the midst of an epidemic of child hunger—according to Feeding America, 1 in 5 American children suffered from ...

Of the 75,000 people Philabundance serves every week, roughly 16% are senior citizens. While Philabundance strives to help all Delaware Valley residents in need of food assistance, we know that hunger impacts senior citizens in ways that differ from our other neighbors in need. As May is National Older Americans Month, now is the perfect time to discuss senior hunger and how Philabundance works to address it.
According to Feeding America, 4.8 million Americans over the age of 60 were food insecure in 2011. In fact, seniors as a demographic are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. Many are out of the ...

As I diligently prepare for its fourth year, the genesis of Cupcake Smash is worth telling. I come from a long line of Polish women who not only knew their way around a kitchen, but possess the inherent need to help others. This, coupled with my affection for competitive reality television of the culinary variety (I’m looking at you Candace Nelson and your fancy cupcake ATM), motivated me to bring my vision to life. The involvement of Philabundance seemed like a no-brainer. In my previous work life, I spent countless hours distributing an assortment of promotional samples to an abundance ...

Volunteers have a longstanding and enduring importance in our country, and 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Week is a nationwide initiative that strives to recognize and inspire volunteers across the country. Volunteers are at the forefront of enacting social change in their communities, making a tangible difference every day.
Philabundance serves 75,000 people each week through its network of member food pantries, emergency kitchens and shelters across nine counties in the Delaware Valley. This could not be accomplished without the help of our 16,000 volunteers each year. From sorting and packing food in our warehouse ...

2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of AmeriCorps. Comprised of three main branches, including AmeriCorps State & National, AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC), and AmeriCorps Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA), AmeriCorps service members work on varied tasks throughout the US to “get things done for America.” From planting trees and restoring trails in national parks to tutoring children in schools across the country, more than 820,000 AmeriCorps service members have served for over a billion service hours, since the first AmeriCorps cohort entered the field in 1994. Since 2009, more than two-dozen VISTAs have served with Philabundance. Each full-time VISTA ...

Some people believe that since hunger has been a scourge from biblical times, humankind can never really expect to end it. Maybe reducing it or maybe minimizing it is possible, but not really ending it. I fully disagree. The United States is the richest country in the world. We have learned how to abolish slavery, eliminate child labor and extend women the right to vote. Nowadays, a public or volunteer fire company will extinguish your house fire whether you are rich or poor. Our schools will educate your children whether you are rich or poor. An ambulance will take you ...

Happy Valentine's Day! Here at Philabundance, we can't think of a better way to celebrate this sweet and generous holiday than by helping families fight hunger through our February campaign, Spread the Love!
Philabundance is teaming up with Subaru of America to collect as much peanut butter and jelly as possible through February 28th. For every “Like” Philabundance gets on Facebook, Subaru will donate one jar of peanut butter or jelly to Philabundance--one click of a button on Facebook helps feed our neighbors in need!
So, why peanut butter and jelly? Peanut butter is in high demand with our families in need ...

The newest Farm Bill, a massive piece of legislation which sets American agricultural and nutrition policy, was just passed by the House and will be voted on by Senate as early as this week. Some elements of the bill are enormously complex, containing the minutest details of how our government regulates the agricultural sector. But there’s one section of the bill has consequences that couldn’t be easier to understand—the proposed $8.55 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps.
The topic of SNAP (Food Stamp) cuts may sound familiar. Just this past November, SNAP ...